Tonight
CLYVE
“YEAH, SURE IT is, and still feel guilty as fuck. That’s why I don’t sleep around as rich kids do, Keene because this is what I don’t like-to sleep with a woman in a relationship. Yet here I am, the only person I wanted to sleep with is bloody married and worse than my friend. Do you know how odd that sounds and how does it feel like? It’s terrible! Every time I looked at Westley-God, I wanted to-” I blinked and swallowed the lump in my throat. It was clear that my attraction to her was off the chart, and our connection was nothing like I ever felt before with women.
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I groaned. “This is all wrong. I wanted to take her over and over again, and I wanted to hurt myself at the same time because she is your wife. It fucking hurt that she didn’t tell me. That I let her commit infidelity.”
“I want to make things right. That’s why I am here. I held too much of her life, needs, and wants. I know deep inside she wanted to have a life-the way she used to do. I can’t let her give that up because we are tied to this marriage. She felt responsible for me and I should be the one responsible for her because I am her husband. Because I was sick and weak, and no one would take care of me, she thought that was the right thing to do. She had privileges. Her fund could treat me when I told her that I’d rather die than put my place on the market. Then her fund was cut off, and we left with nothing. I couldn’t even work and do something for the cabin-”
“Because they thought she was dead.”
“Yes. Her stepmom manipulated her father to believe that she was dead. At first, we withdraw her money from another state so that they couldn’t find us. Then someone froze her account and left us nothing. I was already sick at that time.”
“I’m so sorry that you have to go through that.”
“You were aware that her family accused her of sabotaging her step-sister’s engagement party. You have to know that Westley would never do that.”
Yeah, and how about now? Isn’t it cheating?
“I remember that woman.” How could I not? She was the one who dropped the bomb on me.
“Everything fell apart when I became sick. Every time we went to see doctors, they would only treat me if I could pay a huge amount of bills. Westley married me to save the cabin because I would rather take the cabin to the ground rather than give it to my relatives who treated me like a rug. Marriage was her idea, and she promised me to keep the cabin if something bad would happen to me. And she thought she would put my name as her beneficiary in her insurance.”
“This is too much to wrap my head around it, Keene.” I paced back and forth.
“Our married is only in papers, Clyve. I couldn’t destroy our friendship. As odd as it sounds, she’s like a sister to me, and she sees me as her brother.”
“It sounds quite atypical.” My heart swelled that Westley would do anything for the person she cared about, contradicting what I believed that she was selfish. But she still lied to me.
“I know. Every time I mentioned divorce, she just pushed the topic aside. Now that her father is back in her life, all she wants is to give me access to tertiary treatment. Her father even hired a private nurse for me just to keep his daughter closer to him.”
“So, you came all the way here to tell me about your marriage?”
“Yes, and I am also leaving tonight. I will send her the divorce paper once I settle everything back home.”
I shook my head furiously. Jesus Christ! His idea would break Westley. “This is the most terrible idea I heard in my entire life. If she pushed that topic aside, how do you think she would feel if you left and sent her a bloody petition? You will break her heart, Keene. Get me out of this, be a man, and fix your fucking mess!”
“She’d done so much for me already. No matter what will happen after tonight, we’re still friends, and it feels like I am the one who’s holding her life. I’m fine now, and her responsibility toward me is over.”
“Does she know you’re here?”
Keene looked away. He didn’t have to answer me anymore because it was obvious he sneaked out.
“Does she know that you’re leaving tonight?”
“No.” I could feel the guilt he was carrying, but I had a lot on my own to make him feel better.
“This is a terrible idea. You came here, and let me guess, you left her a note that you’re leaving, and I am the only person who is aware. Now it’s my responsibility to keep your secret, isn’t it? Are you bloody insane?” I pointed to the door. “Go home, and be that man to your wife because I am not doing this horrible idea with you!”
“I am sorry, Clyve for putting you in this situation. I just want you both to be together.” His words didn’t hold any bite. He made it pretty clear that even Westley couldn’t stop him.
“This is not supposed to be this way, Keene. Maybe I and Westley are not meant to be like you are trying to push us together. Stop playing matchmaker because you are terrible at doing your job. Just don’t put me in this situation because I have too much guilt in me that would last a lifetime.”
“You two suffer too much because of this hoax marriage.”
“That is not a hoax.”
“It is, Clyve. If I knew this marriage would hurt both of us I wouldn’t have agreed to her suggestion. And I would have fixed this before you came into her life.”
“You can’t do this to her, mate, and you know her better than anyone that if you do this, you’re going to hurt her.”
“I’m sorry, but I made up my mind.” Of course, you do. “Do me a favor to please take care of my best friend.”
“Keene.” I let out a frustrated growl when he started to walk away. “This is insane!”
Once he reached the door, he looked at me and pleaded, “You are the only person who is able to break her wall. She’d suffered too much already. Please, don’t wait for her to restore it because she might not welcome anyone into her life for good.”